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La Russa to take full '11 staff to All-Star Game

La Russa to take full '11 staff to All-Star Game

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ST. LOUIS -- Former Cardinals manager Tony La Russa will take his full 2011 St. Louis coaching staff with him to Kansas City next month, where La Russa will manage the National League in the All-Star Game on July 10 at Kauffman Stadium.

That announcement was made on Wednesday, when La Russa unveiled his coaching-staff selections. Current Cardinals coaches Derek Lilliquist, Mark McGwire and Jose Oquendo will be a part of that All-Star staff. So, too, will Dave Duncan, Dave McKay and Joe Pettini, all of whom departed, like La Russa, over the winter.

Duncan is on a leave of absence to care for his wife, who has been battling brain cancer. McKay (Cubs) and Pettini (Astros) have since joined other organizations.

"It's very unexpected when you get into coaching to think that you'll be back in an All-Star Game," said McGwire, a 12-time All-Star as a player. "It's a great thing, because you know you've been in the World Series. It's great enough to be in the World Series, but to get a present the next year by going to the All-Star Game is a really cool thing."

La Russa's All-Star staff will also include Brewers manager Ron Roenicke and Mets manager Terry Collins, both having been chosen by La Russa.

La Russa will be serving as an All-Star Game manager for the sixth time in his career, a total surpassed only by three Hall of Famers -- Casey Stengel (10), Walter Alston (9) and Joe McCarthy (7). This will be the third time La Russa will manage the game in a Cardinals uniform.